This article was written by
Maryland Master Wildlife Habitat
Naturalist Cathy Gilleland.
For more information or for the
name of a Master Wildlife Habitat
Naturalist in your area, please
contact:
WindStar Wildlife Institute
10072 Vista Court
Myersville, Maryland 21773
Phone: (301) 293-3351
E-mail: wildlife@windstar.org
http://www.windstar.org
WindStar Wildlife Institute is a
national, non-profit, conservation
organization whose mission is to
help individuals and families
establish or improve the wildlife
habitat on their properties.
loving species can be planted
around the edges.
Ledges create different water
depths, while logs and partially
submerged rocks offer safe
perches for small mammals.
The pond should be located
where it can receive four to five
hours of sunlight a day, and a
recirculating pump will keep the
water fresh and moving.
There are also devices to
create waterfalls or sprays of
mist. Placing the pond within
reach of your garden hose will
enable you to fill it during
periods of limited rainfall.
What Species Do You Want.
Think about the wildlife you
want to attract. Including fish
will cut down on the number of
amphibians, since they eat the
eggs of creatures like frogs and
salamanders, but will increase
the attractiveness for birds
such as kingfishers and herons.
If you have a large property,
talk to your local Extension
Service or state Department of
Natural Resources for
information about constructing
a bigger pond or a marshy area.
These will attract many wildlife
species including larger birds,
ducks, raccoons, and muskrats.
Restoring wetlands is
invaluable for the environment,
and will offer you wonderful
opportunities for watching
wildlife.
Moisture-loving plants include
cattails, marsh marigold,
duckweed, water lily, arrowhead,
and rushes.
Suggested Plants With
Food Value For Wildlife
Summer
wild plum
raspberry
blackberry
apple
serviceberry
mulberry
plum
blueberry
American elderberry
Fall
dogwood
wild cherry
cotoneaster
corn
oats
wheat
winterberry
grape
viburnum
spicebush
mountain ash
Winter
black/red chokeberry holly
Virginia creeper
crabapple
highbush cranberry bittersweet
mountain ash
staghorn sumac
Nuts & Acorns
black walnut
red oak
shagbark hickory pecan
white oak
butternut
American hazel
beech
Wetland
smartweed
cattail
bulrush
wild millet
pondweed
spike rush
wild rice
Nectar
cardinal flower
bee balm
morning glory
petunia
trumpet honeysuckle
